In a significant blow to Arsenal’s Premier League title chances, manager Mikel Arteta expressed profound disappointment following a 1-0 defeat to West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta furious after Arsenal’s West Ham defeat: “It’s My Responsibility”
The loss, marked by Jarrod Bowen’s decisive header just before halftime, ended Arsenal’s impressive 15-game unbeaten streak and widened the gap between the Gunners and league leaders Liverpool.
Arteta did not mince words in his post-match assessment, taking personal responsibility for the team’s subpar performance.
“Very disappointed, obviously very angry as well,” he stated.
“I never felt that we were at the level or the standard. It’s my responsibility. We have to change that.”
The match saw Arsenal struggle to penetrate West Ham’s disciplined defense, with the team managing 20 shots but only two on target.
The offensive line, led by Mikel Merino in an unfamiliar striker role, appeared disjointed and ineffective.
Despite injuries sidelining key forwards like Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka, Arteta refused to attribute the defeat to the lack of attacking options.
“No, I refuse that completely. I’m talking about the standards, me included. It was nowhere near the level that we need to win the Premier League,” he emphasized.
The situation worsened in the 73rd minute when substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly received a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, reducing Arsenal to ten men.
This controversial decision, upgraded from a yellow card after a VAR review, further hampered the team’s efforts to find an equalizer.
This defeat leaves Arsenal eight points adrift of Liverpool, with the potential for the gap to widen if Liverpool secures a victory against Manchester City on Sunday.
Arteta acknowledged the uphill battle ahead, stating, “It’s not in our hands. I’m really, really annoyed of the things that were in our hands.”
Looking forward, Arteta urged his team to channel their frustration into improved performances.
“I think we have to look in the mirror of ourselves of what we can do better… But at that level, this is not enough,” he remarked.
Arsenal will aim to regroup and elevate their standards as they prepare to face Nottingham Forest in their next fixture, with the hope of reigniting their title challenge.
